33 Feel-Good Stories From History That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity

Published September 14, 2021
Updated March 12, 2024

These uplifting stories from the past include tales of quiet bravery, unlikely friendships, good deeds, and more that will leave you feeling inspired.

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33 Feel-Good Stories From History That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity
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Mister Rogers famously said, "Look for the helpers." In the gallery above, find stories of such helpers — from ordinary people to war heroes to celebrities. These feel-good stories prove that humankind isn't all bad — far from it.

Feel-Good Stories From Ordinary People

Many of the uplifting stories in the gallery above are simply stories of ordinary people seeking to make positive change.

Some of these stories show normal people doing extraordinary things for the health of the planet. There's Sebastião and Lélia Salgado in Brazil, who were so devastated by deforestation that they planted two million trees. There's also Morgan Freeman, who turned his 124-acre ranch into a bee sanctuary. And there's the inspiring proliferation of animal overpasses, which allow wildlife to cross highways safely.

Wildlife Crossing Alberta Canada

Joel Sartore/MyModernMetA wildlife crossing in Alberta, Canada.

Then there are ordinary people whose lives and actions simply inspire. Take Oprah Winfrey, who escaped poverty and sexual abuse to become one of the few Black billionaires in the United States. Or, consider Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine but didn't patent it — making it widely accessible and affordable.

"There's no patent," Salk said. "Can you patent the sun?"

And there are people who started their lives in slavery before becoming an inspiration. Robert Smalls commandeered a Confederate ship and sailed it to Union waters, winning his freedom. And Mary Bowser spied on the Confederacy from its heart as an enslaved worker in the Confederate White House, passing priceless information back to Union troops.

Inspiring Stories During Wartime

Some of the most inspiring stories come from the darkest of places. During World War II, the Nazis marched across Europe and slaughtered millions of Jews. But not everyone bent to their will.

In France, a Jewish mime named Marcel Marceau decided to play his part using the skills that he already possessed. Marceau helped smuggle hundreds of children to safety in neighboring Switzerland. To avoid detection on the perilous journey, he used his miming skills to keep the children quiet and entertained.

Marcel Marceau Mime

Rogelio A. Galaviz C./FlickrMarcel Marceau used his miming skills to help smuggle Jewish children out of danger.

Then there are people like Paul Grüninger and Corrie ten Boom. They came from completely different worlds, but both stepped up in uplifting ways to save lives during World War II.

Grüninger worked as a Swiss border guard tasked with denying desperate Jewish refugees entry into Switzerland. Quietly, he began to defy his superiors. Grüninger falsified 3,600 documents which allowed Jews to enter Switzerland safely.

Though he was found out, fired, and arrested, Grüninger never regretted what he did. "I'd rather break the rules than send these poor, miserable people back to Germany," he said.

On the other side of Europe, ten Boom also acted to save lives. A Dutch watchmaker, she had watched with dismay as her friends, neighbors, and clients were taken by the Nazis.

"At any minute there might be a rap on this door," she thought to herself while visiting with Jewish friends. "These children, this mother and father, might be ordered to the back of a truck."

So, ten Boom and her family constructed a secret room in their home. They helped some 800 Jews flee the Netherlands.

In all, the people in the gallery above come from all walks of life. They faced different circumstances and challenges. But each rose to the occasion. They stood up to oppression and violence, sought to improve the environment, and, sometimes, simply reached out an open hand.


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After reading through these 33 feel-good stories, learn about 21 war heroes from history. Or, check out these 10 interesting stories that will impress even history buffs.

author
Kaleena Fraga
author
A staff writer for All That's Interesting, Kaleena Fraga has also had her work featured in The Washington Post and Gastro Obscura, and she published a book on the Seattle food scene for the Eat Like A Local series. She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a dual degree in American History and French.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.